Abdominal support.



l. H. & E. M. TEMPLE.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, I9I7.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1. H. mi. M. TEMPLE.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1917.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

In ven '5011514 Jh# Temp I@ M .sans ATENT OFFRE JnivrEs H. TEMPLE AND Eve TEMPLE, or PORTLAND, OREGON.'

" ABLOMINAL SUPPORT. y

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Dem 11,

Application led May 2G, 1917. Serial Ne. 171,230.

ments in Abdominal Supports, `of whichthe following is a specification.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in abdominal supports and has for its primary object the provision of a support for use in the treat-ment of floating kidneys, prolapse conditions, hernia, obesity, and the like, and for use for obstetrical purposes, or as a support after abdominal operations of various classes.

In this connection our-.invention consists of a main support or girdle formed in three parts, two constituting the back and side portions of the garment and the other the front portion, series of laces connecting the front or free edges of the former portion with the adjacent edges of the Vfront portion so that the girdle as a WholeV may be drawn as tightly as desired about the body of the patient. Both. vportions are stiffened vertically at suitable points by bones of whalebone, steel or other suitable material'inserted in closed pockets formed in the girdle.

The invention further comprehends a. secondary girdle or harness formed of relatively heavy webbing carrying at its front vertically disposed stiffening bones and'being connected at its ends behind by laces.

A further object of our invention consists in the provision of a novel means for securing this secondary girdle or harness in the required adjusted position, said means including an adjustable connection between the lower front portion of the girdle proper and the corresponding portion of the harness, whereby the front portion 0f theharness may be adjusted to engage about the patient at a higher or lower point, as de sired, and further consisting in connecting the rear free ends of the harness to the rear portion of the lgirdle by\the same laceA connecting the edges of the side and back portions of the girdle.

A still further object which we have in view is the provision of moisture absorbing thigh pads adapted to pass downwardly over the upper portions of the thighs and around the buttocks to properly hold the supporter as a whole in place.l v

Still another object we have in` view is the` particular shaping ofthe parts forming the girdle so that together with the means for adjustmentprovided the girdle may be applied to bring desired pressure at ,all proper points and to raise the abdomen and support it from the pubic arch bone upward.

With these and other object-s in View, our invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then specifically pointed out in the claimsV which form a part of this application.

In the `accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the manner of applymg our improved abdominal support.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken centrally of the front portion of the supporting device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional viewof one of the thigh pads.

Fig. 4 is ay fragmentary front elevation 0f the support. e l v Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the support.

The main girdle or body -of our improved abdominal support includes a pair of back and side forming portions 10 and afront portion'y 11 which in use are secured to each other by properly disposed lacings, as will be later explained. The front portion is substantially rectangular in shape and of considerable length, being elongated at its lower end so that it may engage over the pubic arch bone. The side edges of the lower half of the rvfront are practically straight whilethe side edges of the upper. half are shaped to conform to the contour of the abdomen. This portion 11 is formedof any suitable cloth of sutlicient strength and is provided centrally with a sti-ening'strip 12 of heavy webbing orequivalent material which extends throughout the height of the front section, being secured thereto Y by stitches 13 and being formed to provide parallel pocketsl 14 which receive `stiffening bones 1 5 which areof less length than the front portion and which consequently may be adjusted vertically in the pockets to .give the support less rigidity than 'would otherwise be the case. I

The side and back portions 10 are formed preferably of the same material as the front portion and have their upper edges substantially straight lso that-the upper portion of the girdle will encircle thev body of the wearer atapproximately the same height throughout its circumference, the only difference beirg that the. front portion and adjacent parts of the side portions are somewhat higher. @n the other hand, the lower edges of the portions 10 are inclined upwardly so that the free back ends of such portions are of considerably less height than their forward ends in order that the back edges of theportions l0 may lie above the patients buttocks. Preferably each of the back and side portions l0 is formed by a relatively long front section 16, a short back section 17 and a gusset section-18, the gusset section being of considerably greater width at its lower than at its upper edge to give the proper curvature or fullness to the finish'ed girdle, the sections being secured at their adjacent edgesby stitching, Each of the gusset sections is vprovided medially with a vertically disposed strengthening strip l19 of webbing; which provides at sides pockets 20 to receive stiiiieuiig bones 2l which extend throughout the entire length of the webbing. ,In like manner the rear ends ofthe Sections 17 are provided with stiife'ning strips 22 which along 4their outer edge are fcrmed with pockets 23 receiving` bones Pfl which. extend throughout the length of the strips. A series of eyelets 25 is disposed at the free edge of each of the portions l0, being located immediately within the pockets Q3 so that a lacing passed through the eyelets to draw the portions together at the back will pass about the stidening bones and prevent any possibility ofl wrinkling or puckering of the edges of the garment through drawing up of. the lacing; The front free edges of the porticns l() are provided with series of eyelets 26 and the side edges of the front portion il with corresponding series of eyelets 27. A. pair of laces 28 and 29 are laced through the eyelets 26 and 27 atA the forward end of one of the members l0 and adjacent end of the portion ll so that they may be ytied both at the upper and lower edge of the girdle, as indicated at Q8. l@Orrespoiiding laces 29 and 30 are laced through the eyeletsof the opposite side 'of the. front portion ll and at the edge of the adjacent side and back poi"- tio'n l0 and correspondingly knotted at the upper and lower edges of the girdle.

Straps 32 of heavy webbing cr 'equivalent material are Asecured to the side portie-s of the lower edge of the front portion .il of the girdle by stitching as indicated at 33 andv at their oppositeends are adjustably secured in buckles 34 depending fromtabs ,of webbing 35 secured to the outer fac'eof the portions 10 at the point of juncture' of the front sections 16 ofsuch portions and the gusset sections 18. These strips of webbing are adapted to pass between the legs `of the wearer and around and below the buttocks and pads are stitched to the inner faces of the strips 32 along those portions of such strips which passbetween the legs. rlhese pads are a great improvement as they will absorb all moisture and prevent chaiing and discomfort.

The method of applying this girdle or portion of the. abdominal support thus far described willk be readily apparent by reference to the drawings, particularly Figs. l, et and 5, the absorbing thigh pads or strips 32 being adjusted to the proper length and the lacings QS and 29, and 29 and 30 being drawn from their upper or lower ends or both to 'cause proper litting of the front portion and adjacent parts of the side and back portions about the body of the wearer. The girdle is tightened about the' body of the wearer by a suitable lacing connecting the. free ends of the portions l0, as will be later explained;

The front portion at its sides is provided with flaps 37 which are stitched to its inner face just beyond the lines of the eyelets 27 and which lie between the bcdy of the patient and the adjacent parts of the girdle, the eyelets and laces when the girdle is in position, as will be apparent by reference to Fig; 5.

Coperating with the above "described girdle is a belt or harness including a pair of belt forming tapes 38 and 39 of heavy web loing or other suitable materialwhich int-'ermediate their length are connected to the upper and low'erends of a bracing strip or elementv 40 in the. form of a double thickness of lwebbing providing between them a pocket 4l to receive a stiifening bone 42. Each end of the belt formingy strip or web-A hing 38 is secured to the adjacent end of the strip 39 and the intermediate portion of the strip 39 is folded or twisted upon itself at its point of connection to the members a0, as shown at l-Q, so that while the belt sec'- tion 38 will pass directly around the waist of the wearer', the belt section 39 will have4 its intermediate portion projected downwardly in spaced relation to the portion as clearly shown in Figs. l and eef the drawings. Braci-n g strips 43 of doubleI web'- bing", correspcnding to the members i0 and provided with pcckets di to receive bones 45, are connected at their upper ends to the belt 38 adjacent the upper end of the strip l0 and at their lower ends to the belt 39 iny spaced relation to the lower end of the strip 4:0 so, that while the strip l0 is vertically disposed the bracing 'strips i3 will diverge downwardly. A pair of transversely disposed eyelets 46 are located in the lower end` o-f the bracing strip i() and serve to additionally secure the belt 39 thereto, anda lacing 47 1s passed through these eyelets and through a corresponding pair of eyelets 48' in a tab i9 secured to the lower portion of the front memberl 11of thel girdle and has its ends united as shown at 50 in order that the-compound belt formed by the strips 38 and 39 may be held at any desired elevation with respect to the lower edge of the girdle and may be kept from riding upwardduring use. A

The joined ends of the strips 38 and 39 f are each provided with a pair of eyelets 51 and a lacing 52 serves to adjustably draw the ends of the belts 38 and 39 toward'each other and also to correspondingly draw the free rear edges of the girdle portions 10 toward each other. This is accomplished by passing the intermediate portion of-the lacing 52 `outwardly through the upper eyelets 25in-the ends of the portions 10, lacing'the ends of `the lacing downwardly through the various eyelets'to the limitof the junctures of the belts 38 and`39,

through the upper eyelets at said junctures back through the lower eyelets atl said junc-- tures, having elongated loops 53, continuing lacing the endsof the lacing through Vthe eyelets 25 of the portions 10l and knotting the ends of the lacing at the last eyelets as indicated at 54. Under these conditions, the portion' lof the lacing 52 joining `the free edges of the girdle sections 10 and the portions of the lacing joining the adjacent ends of the compound belt 38-39, may be loosened by utilizing the slack of the loops 53 so that the garment may be put on without removal of any of the lacings. By then taking up this slack through pulling upon the loops vthe girdle proper may be drawn as tightly as desired and the compound belt may be also tightened correspondinly, after which the loops may be knotted as shown at 55 in F ig. 5. Because of this it will be clear that both the girdle and compound belt will fit about the body of the wearer with the same snugness and absolute comfort is thereby assured. Obviously, by adjustment of the lacing 47 the forward portion of the compound belt may be raised. or lowered and by varying the points at which the lacing 52 is looped ofi' to the ends of the compound belt the back portion of this belt may be raised or lowered.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the manner of wearing and fitting the abdominal support will be readily understood and no description is necessary. It should be noted, however, that by making the moisture absorbing thigh pads and straps adjustable and by providing the girdle with two pairs of lacings connecting the front portion 1l with the side and back portions 10, a Wide range of adjustment is permitted. Because of this either the lower or upper portions of the girdle may be tightened at will and the girdle made to properly conform to the shape of the wearer. The compound belt 38-39 and particularly the bracingfstrip's 40 and 43 constitute a pressure pad having great purchasing power due to its-connection at its bottom to the front portion of .the girdle and to the lacingspassed through the eyelets at the endsof Vthe compound belt or pressure pad and through the ends of the baclrportions of the girdle. i' 1 v y Obviously, various minor changes in the shape of the various'parts, as well as in their'proportions and the-locations of the various bracing strips with their bone reg;- inforcements, may be made to suit varying conditions without in .the slightest degree departing from the spirit vof our invention as set forth inthe claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: j

l. An abdominal support including a girdle yformed in sections adjustably connected by laces and adapted to encircle'the waist and engage over the'abdomen of the patient,a belt having 'an intermediate por-l tion adapted to 4engage lover the front of the girdle and end portions projecting around toward the back ofthe girdle, the belt tapering. in width from its intermediate portion to its-ends, and a single'lacing' cooperating with the free ends of the girdle at the back and with the free ends of the belt at the back for simultaneously and correspondingly tightening and securing both the girdle and belt.

2. An abdominal support including a girdle formed in sections adjustably connected by laces and adapted to encircle the waist and engage over the abdomen of the patient, a belt having an intermediate portion adapted to engage over the front of the girdle and end portions projecting around toward the back of the girdle, the belt tapering in width from its intermediate-portion to its ends, a single lacing coperating. with ythe free ends of the girdle at the back and with the free ends of the belt at the back for simultaneously and correspondingly tightening and securing both the girdle and belt, vertically disposed stiifening elementsv located in the front of the girdle and adjustable vertically therein, and stitiening elements located in the front of the belt.

3. An abdominal support including a girdle formed in sections adjustably connected by laces and adapted to encircle the waist and engage over the abdomen of the patient, a belt having an intermediate portion adapted to engage overfthe front of the girdle and end lportions projecting around toward the back of the girdle, the belt tapering in width from its intermediate portionA to its ends, a single lacing cooperating with the free ends of the girdle at the back and with the free ends of the belt at the back for simultaneously and correspondingly tightening and securing both the girdle and belt, vertically disposed stili ening elements located in the front of the girdle and adjustable vertically therein, stiifening elements located in the front of the belt, certain of the stifening elements of the belt being vertically disposed at the front thereof and others disposed at either side of the first and converging from the upper edge of the belt to the lower edge thereof.

4. An abdominal support including a girdle shaped and proportioned to fit. about the waist and over the abdomen of the patient and open at the back, a belt having an intermediate portion adapted to engage over the front of the girdle and end portions projecting` around toward the back of the girdle, the belt tapering in width from its intermediate portion to its ends and a common lacing closing the back of both the girdle and belt.

5. An abdominal support including a girdle and belt both open at the back, the girdle being shaped to engage about the waist and over the abdomen of a patient and the belt encircling the girdle, and a girdle being shaped to engage about the waist and over the abdomen of a patient and the belt encircling the girdle, and a common means for tightening and fastening both the girdle and belt, said means causing corresponding tightening of both the girdle and belt.

7. An abdominal support including a girdle and .belt both open at the back, the girdle being shaped to engage about the waist and over the abdomen of a patient and the belt encircling the girdle, the girdle tapering in width from its intermediate to its end portions, means for tightening and fastening both the girdle andbelt, and adjustable means connecting the lower edge of the front of the girdle with the 'lower edge of the front of the belt.

ln testimony whereof we afiiX our 'signatures.

JAMES H. TEMPLE. [n s] EVA M. TEMPLE. [L. s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Nashingtom D. C. 

